Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-24

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people have decided to reduce the number of times they fly every year or to stop flying altogether.

Do you think the environmental benefits of this development outweigh the disadvantages for individuals and businesses?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.0)

Nowadys, there is strong debate on the topic, that people should reduce the number of times they fly every year or to stop flying altogather. Although, this development have its advantages, as well as it has its own kind of drawbacks too. In this essay, we will discuss both advantages and disadvantages of this development, before reaching to any conclusion.

One category of people argue that it is crucial to for people to reduce the number of times they fly every year, for the environmental benefits. They believe that unnecessary travelling by air can impact our atmosphere negatively. This can add up in air pollution. For instance, Plans use a large amount of fuel to fly. This fuel emits smoke in the air which results in air pollution. Increased number of passengers by air will lead into high number of flights. This will eventually ended up in more air pollution.

On the other hand, Some people do believe that decrease in number of flights every year will have a major drawback in the lives of cabin crew. For example, the employee list in this field will become short, and people who have studied and practice in this field with ended up in shortage of jobs opportunities.

I also strongly believe that there more benefits of people to decide reducing the number of times they fly every year, because air quality is getting worse day by day. In my opinion, people should priortize the environment safety over unnecessary trips by air.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You give a clear view in the final paragraph: you believe the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and you identify air pollution as a relevant reason. However, the response addresses the task only partially. The environmental case is explained briefly, while the disadvantages are limited to possible job losses for cabin crew; there is no discussion of effects on businesses or other individual impacts, such as travel access or cost. The opening promises to discuss both sides, but the ideas are not sufficiently developed or supported with specific examples. The response is also 31 words below the required minimum, which limits the space available to develop your argument. Explain how reduced flying affects businesses and individuals, then support your position with a concrete example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph presenting the environmental argument, a paragraph on a disadvantage, and a concluding opinion. Transitions such as “On the other hand” and “In my opinion” help signal changes in direction. However, progression is limited because the introduction says the essay will discuss both sides, while the body does not fully develop that comparison or connect the points to the question of whether benefits outweigh disadvantages. Some linking is mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “This” and “For example.” The conclusion also arrives abruptly after a short disadvantage paragraph. Build clearer links between each claim and its consequence, and use paragraphing to develop a balanced comparison before concluding.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “environmental benefits,” “air pollution,” “fuel,” “cabin crew,” and “job opportunities,” so the main subject is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several word-choice or spelling errors make the writing less precise, such as “Plans” for “planes,” “altogather,” and “priortize.” Some expressions are also unnatural, including “add up in air pollution” and “ended up in more air pollution.” Aim for accurate collocations and a wider range of terms for the effects on people and businesses, such as employment, operating costs, and access to travel. Proofreading spelling and choosing more natural phrases would make your meaning easier to follow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a concession in “Although, this development have its advantages” and a conditional-style explanation of how more passengers could lead to more flights. However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. Examples include subject–verb agreement in “this development have,” the incomplete construction “there more benefits,” and the verb-form error “This will eventually ended up.” There are also problems with articles, prepositions, and sentence punctuation, such as the comma after “Although” and the capitalisation of “Some” after a comma. Practise building accurate sentences with one main clause and a subordinate clause, then check agreement and verb forms.

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